By Les Harrison
Wakulla County Extension Director
In a finite world there is always an end which sooner or later follows every beginning. The inevitable termination is rarely a surprise, but the signals and signs are often overlooked.
In home horticulture the unavoidable end of plants and trees can provoke many questions. Aside from the self-recriminations, there is also the economic impact.
Few events engender attention to potential problems more than a pain in the pocket book. So if one plant exhibits symptoms and then dies, the remaining plants will be examined closely for similar signs.
Lichens often grow on dying plants, but not all plants with lichens are dying. Based on a few occurrences, it is easy to conclude they then are the cause of the shrubs demise.